The Tempting Road to Becoming an Official

"You... you... you... you're slandering me! How could I possibly resort to such despicable means?"

Sun Shenru panicked.

His voice even began to stammer.

Chen Fang sneered and said, "Aren't you used to despicable means? Regarding Tan Yandong's death, you also felt very unexpected, didn't you? So, you had someone delete the chat records because you didn't want anyone to know that he last contacted you, right?"

His inner thoughts were revealed.

Sun Shenru grew even more nervous.

He had no strength to refute.

Stammering for a while, he said, "Anyway, I didn't kill Tan Yandong. If he ended up committing suicide later on, it was because of his own guilt."

Chen Fang nodded.

He said, "Alright, I understand. I, Chen Fang, am a man of my word. Since you've told me the truth, I won't trouble you. That video, I won't expose it. But let me make it clear—if no one offends me, I don't offend anyone, but if someone offends me, I return it tenfold."

Having said this.

He sighed deeply, stood up, and left the meeting room.

He had just pushed open the door to Li Duming's office.

Li Duming, who had been anxiously waiting, immediately came up to him and asked, "How did it go? Did you find out anything?"

Chen Fang nodded.

Then he recounted the details of the event at Mine 419, as told by Sun Shenru.

Upon hearing this, Li Duming was quite surprised.

He remained silent for a long time before saying, "So, Tan Yandong really did commit suicide out of fear of his crimes?"

"Yes, he indeed committed suicide out of fear of his crimes, but there still remain some doubts. My godfather has never been materialistic. If he had been, he wouldn't have divorced his wife initially. Yet, why did he particularly favor the Li River Mine? It doesn't make sense," Chen Fang said.

Li Duming frowned and asked, "Are you saying that Tan Yandong's choice to commit suicide wasn't solely because he underreported the mine disaster, but also to prevent further investigation into it?"

Chen Fang nodded.

He said, "Underreporting the mine disaster isn't a capital crime; at most it would result in prison time, maybe ten or eight years, but that's better than death. My godfather was never a pessimistic man; he wouldn't have chosen suicide on his own. I believe there are other reasons behind this, ones that we simply don't know."

Li Duming patted Chen Fang on the shoulder.

He said, "Alright, since we've reached the truth now, let's not dwell on it. Perhaps Tan Yandong cared about his reputation, who knows. By the way, are you really letting Sun Shenru go just like that?"

Chen Fang sneered a little and said, "I've let him go, but I'm sure he won't let me go. So, I need to prepare myself for his retaliation."

"He wouldn't be that foolish, would he?"

"He's a very sinister person, he judges others by his own standards, and he definitely won't let his hold over me slip; his retaliation is inevitable," Chen Fang said.

The truth behind Tan Yandong's death.

Left Chen Fang feeling down for an entire afternoon.

He had always believed that Tan Yandong was innocent.

But as the truth began to emerge, Tan Yandong still ended up mired in filth.

Though he was still not entirely convinced.

However, for now, this was the only conclusion.

After work.

Chen Fang had just arrived at the entrance of his apartment block.

When he saw four or five police cars parked at the gate, all flashing their lights.

Wondering if something had happened, he saw several policewomen escorting Ning Yi out of the building entrance.

"Which department are you from?"

Chen Fang immediately went up to them, blocking their way and asked.

In the corner, a middle-aged man in a police uniform suddenly stepped forward and said, "Hello, Secretary Chen."

"Director Zou, what brings you here?"

The police in front of him was Changming County's Deputy County Mayor and Director of the Public Security Bureau, Zou Fengming.

Zou Fengming smiled and said, "The county bureau received a report that Comrade Ning Yi used illegal means to invade someone's privacy, and now the Public Security Bureau is carrying out the arrest."

Invading someone's privacy?

Chen Fang found it amusing—such a minor charge warranted the deployment of five police cars.

It was clearly just Sun Shenru's retaliation.

And all dressed up so righteously.

"Director Zou, Comrade Ning Yi did so under my orders," Chen Fang said.

Zou Fengming was taken aback for a moment, then showed a gratified smile.

He said, "Secretary Chen, this is no joke. You have to be responsible for what you've said."

"I am responsible!"

Chen Fang said.

Zou Fengming nodded and said, "Okay, since Secretary Chen has surrendered, he should come with us."

With that said.

He waved his hand.

Two police officers came over and grabbed Chen Fang's shoulders.

Chen Fang exchanged a glance with Ning Yi, neither of them saying a word.

Fifteen minutes later.

They were taken into separate interrogation rooms at the police station.

Chen Fang was handcuffed again, secured to the interrogation chair.

However, no one came to collect his deposition.

He waited for about half an hour.

The door to the interrogation room was pushed open.

A young man in a plain jacket walked in.

It was indeed Sun Xi.

As Sun Xi entered, the red light on the camera directly in front of him went out.

This meant that the surveillance was turned off.

He leaned on the table, sized up Chen Fang, sneered, and said, "I was wondering how I'd get you to come in, but here you are, willingly caught in the trap, loyal too. Fine, since you're here, it saves me the trouble. Tell me, where is the video manuscript?"

Chen Fang chuckled.

He said, "I've already said I won't pursue your father and son's responsibility, yet you folks are so unwilling to let go, even using the state's mechanism to arrest me, playing this game of abusing power for personal gain quite smoothly."

Sun Xi paused and then said, "Chen Fang, oh Chen Fang, everyone says you have a sharp tongue. I was skeptical, but seeing it today, you really are quite capable. Yet, what good does mere talk do? You are in here now, do you expect to fly out? Let me be clear with you, unless you give me the manuscript today, you are not walking out of this police department's door."

"Is that so? I don't believe it!"

Chen Fang nonchalantly said.

Seeing his carefree attitude.

Sun Xi got angry.

He walked straight up to him, grabbed his collar, and bellowed, "Chen Fang, you think I dare not hit you? Let me tell you, I'm brave enough to kill you right here today."

"Then you might try."

Chen Fang said.

"Alright, alright, tough mouth, huh? Fine, let me show you if I'm just boasting."

After saying that.

Sun Xi walked to the door of the interrogation room.

He opened it.

His two bodyguards walked in.

Sun Xi pointed at Chen Fang and said, "Since he does not want to talk, let's help him out. Remember, do whatever you want, no matter what happens, I, Sun Xi, take all the responsibility."

"Alright!"

The two bodyguards cracked their knuckles.

They approached Chen Fang...

It had gotten dark.

The lobby of the Changming County Public Security Bureau, however, was brightly lit.

Just then.

A black sedan drove in through the main gate.

The car drove right up to the steps of the building.

Once the door opened.

County Party Secretary Li Duming and the newly appointed chief officer Xiao Que quickly got out of the car.

They briskly walked up the steps.

As they just entered the lobby.

A side door opened.

Zou Fengming came out with a group of leaders from the Public Security Bureau.

"Mr. Li, what brings you here? Come on, everyone, stand ready, applaud..."

At Zou Fengming's order.

Six police officers lined up, seemingly to applaud but actually blocking his way.

"Zou Fengming, what do you mean by this?"

Li Duming asked.

Zou Fengming chuckled and said, "Mr. Li, what a thing to say. As you grace us with your unexpected presence, I represent the Public Security Bureau in welcoming you. Have you had dinner, Mr. Li? How about I join you for dinner?"

"Move aside!"

Li Duming said sternly.